What are some of the most deadly diseases?

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Some of the deadliest diseases, as of 2015, include coronary artery disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to Healthline. Lower respiratory infection; cancer of the lungs, trachea and bronchus; HIV or AIDS; diarrheal diseases; and diabetes mellitus are other deadliest diseases.

Coronary artery disease, also known as ischemic heart disease, is the narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart, and it kills people more than any other disease, says Healthline. In 2012, for instance, this condition contributed to approximately 13.2 percent of the world's total deaths. In the United States alone, the condition causes approximately 600,000 deaths per year. Some of the factors that may predispose an individual to coronary artery disease include smoking, hypertension and elevated cholesterol.

Stroke is a condition in which the brain fails to get enough oxygen supply as a result of a blockage or leakage in a brain artery, explains Healthline. It kills about 130,000 people in the United States every year, which translates to one death every four minutes. In 2012, stroke accounted for approximately 11.9 percent of total deaths globally.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a chronic condition of the lung that cause breathing difficulty, states Healthline. It is mainly caused by tobacco. In 2012, COPD contributed 5.6 percent of the world's total deaths. In 2011, about 12.7 million people in the United States had COPD. Although the condition has no cure, medications that slow its progress exist.